Staying inspired: Seven tips to break out of a creative rut and improve your photography skills

 

 

Staying inspired and passionate about photography isn't always easy. You can find yourself in a creative rut or just not feeling like you're coming up with fresh ideas or capturing great images. Photographer Eric Kim has seven tips to help you stay inspired.

Do you feel bored with where you're living and the photographic opportunities you're coming across? Good! Eric's first piece of advice for how to stay inspired is to "shoot in 'boring' places." There are opportunities for photos everywhere, you just need to look closely enough. Kim also notes that with the advances made in smartphone camera technology, most of us always have a good camera right in our pockets, so we really don't have any excuse to not make strong images. "Channel your energies into being able to see interesting things in boring places."

Another tip, aimed more at street photographers, is to make social commentary with your photographs. Even an image that might be considered boring can take on a new life when considered in a social context. Similarly, looking for "beauty in the mundane" is a great way to stay inspired. Forcing yourself to look harder at the world around you will keep your photography skills sharp. For more tips, watch the video below.

If you're interested in more tips aimed specifically at street photography, Eric recently made a video with 15 techniques for aspiring street photographers. For many more tips, tricks and tutorials, visit Eric Kim's blog here.

(Seen via Eric Kim Photography)